Spain: Violence as 800 migrants storm Ceuta fence

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA)- Around 800 migrants and refugees from sub-Saharan stormed the border fence separating Spain from Morocco on Thursday morning, resulting in dozens of injuries.

According to Spanish police, the individuals used tools to cut through the reinforced border fence, while using quicklime, rocks, sticks and flamethrowers to keep police at bay.

After crossing, more stones were thrown at police personnel and vehicles, resulting in 15 police injuries, five of whom were taken to the hospital, the police said.

The Red Cross in Ceuta said it treated 132 migrants for injuries, with 11 being treated for more serious wounds and fractures.

In total, 602 migrants managed to cross the border. Videos showed those who successfully crossed celebrating their arrival on European soil.

The majority of the migrants were then transferred to an immigration center in Ceuta, which is now at 15 percent over its capacity, according to Spanish daily El Pais.

Thursday’s scramble over the fence is biggest in the Ceuta since Feb 2017, when more than 850 migrants entered over four days.

This year, Spain has seen a major influx of irregular crossings and has become one of the top destinations for migrants trying to enter into the EU.

Between January and July 22, an estimated 19,586 people crossed irregularly into Spain by sea, making it now the most important migrant route in the Mediterranean, according to the UN migration agency.

During the perilous journey to Spain, an estimated 294 people died on the way. Additionally, 3,125 migrants had attempted to enter Spain irregularly via the country’s African enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta in the same time period, according to Spanish authorities.